Table 2.
Review of the studies investigating the clinical role for internal capsule stimulation for the treatment of pain
| Study, Year | Study Type | Pain Type | Total-(Implanted)-Success | Electrode and Stimulation Parameters | Side Effects | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fields & Adams,21 1974 | CR | SH | 1-1-1 | Medtronic, 30–150 Hz, 0.25–0.45 ms, 0.7 mA | Paresthesias | F-U: 12 mo |
| Adams et al,22 1974 | CS | SH, PSP, SCI | 6-5-5 | Medtronic, 30–150 Hz, 0.25–0.45 ms, 0.7 mA | Paresthesias | STH electrodes; bilateral pain, patient shifted electrode position = lost unilateral therapeutic effect. VPLP stimulation led to worse pain |
| Hosobuchi et al,23 1975 | Please see entry in the STH Section | |||||
| Boethius et al,24 1976 | CS | AD, TPS, PI, PLP | 5-5-4 | Medtronic, 10–100 Hz, 0.1–0.3 ms, 0.15–7 mA | Motor responses, visual phenomena | Pulvinar, CM-Pf, STH, PAG electrodes; Pulvinar, STH, IC successful |
| Hosobuchi et al,25 1979 | Please see entry in the PV(A)G Section | |||||
| Tsubokawa et al,26 1982 | Please see entry in the STH Section | |||||
| Tsubokawa et al,27 1984 | Please see entry in the STH Section | |||||
| Namba et al,28 1984 | CS | PSP, TPS | 7-6-5 | Medtronic, 50 Hz, 0.2–1.0 ms, 2–8 V | Feeling of warmth | F-U: 9–31 mo |
| Namba et al,29 1985 | CS | PSP, TPS, MS | 11-11-8 | Medtronic, 50 Hz, 0.6 ms, 2–3 V | Paresthesias; muscle contraction (putamen involvement) | STH electrodes; most medial/posterior IC past the posterior commissure level |
| Young et al,30 1985 | Please see entry in the PV(A)G Section | |||||
| Kumar et al,31 1997 | Please see entry in the PV(A)G Section | |||||
| Farnzini et al,32 2008 | CR | TS | 1-1-1 | Medtronic, 3389, 100 Hz, 60 ms, 1 V | Paresthesias, contralateral motor responses | Pain/spasticity reduction; F-U 60+ mo |
| Plow et al,33 2013 | Write up of design of clinical trial NCT01072656 | |||||
Abbreviations: AD, anesthesia dolorosa; CR, case report; CS, case series; F-U, follow-up; Hz, Hertz; mA, milliampere; ms, millisecond; PI, plexus injury; PLP, phantom limb pain; PSP, poststroke pain; SCI, spinal cord injury; SH, subdural hematoma; TPS, thalamic pain syndrome; V, volts.